Safety guard mechanism for presses.



I. ADAMS. SFEJ-YGUARD MEcH/INlsM Foa PvEssEs. APPLICATION FILED JULY I4, 1914.

1 ,al 85,752 Patented June 6, y191.6. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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SAFETY GUARD MECHANISM FUR PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I4, 1914. l

l 1 85,752. Patented June 6, 1916.

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JOSEPH ADAMS, OF BROOKLYN, .NEW YORK, AssIGNORVBY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro GEORGE B. HINKLEY, or NEW YORK, NLY.

SAFETY GUARD' MECHANISM FOR IPIRIESSES.`

' for Presses, of which'the following is a specification. Y Y V Y.

This invention relates to safety guard devices for presses Vand similar machines wherein it is desirable to safeguard the operator against exposure to injury throughy negligent or accidental operation of the machine with parts of the person in position to be injured by the moving partsas for in stance the hand of the operator when inserting the work. Devices of this general character have heretofore been incorporated inthe operating connections of presses consisting of guarding means interposed between the operating lever and the clutch release whereby operation by means of the lever is permitted only when the guard element insures safety to the Operator. However, in the devices referred to there still remained the possibility of danger incident to movement of the release connection independently of the operating lever and guarding means such as might occur through accidental contact with the release connection or direct manipulation thereof by the hand of the operator.

My improved device as hereinafter described, is designed particularly to overcome the aforesaid objections and to that end is operative to lock the clutch release parts against operation through the usual foot lever and also against independent operation by direct movement thereof other than when the guard element is in safety position. Also the device of my invention is so Organized that the press cannot be operated by manually thereby eliminating danger'from that source.

The above and other improved features of my invention, both in arrangement and construction, are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein the reference numerals of this description are applied to like parts in the several views.

AIn the drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation a punch press having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2l illustrates 'in plan the device of my invention. Figs. 8 and 4f are side views of parts of the device sepa# Specification of Letters Patent.

new and usefulV depressing the guard gate' rated.` Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view ofthe adjusting parts and Fig. 6 shows in side elevation the locking feature of my invention. l V

My improved device is here shown applied to a commercial type of machine vof the character to which this invention has particular application which, as shown, is of the usual type of ltreadle operated punchpress. '1n Fig. vlthe parts which go to make up my improved device are illustrated in a larger scale than the press to which they are attached merely for the purpose of more clearly illustrating these parts which in actual size are comparatively small relative to the size of the press. The press as shown comprises a suitable standard 1 provided with a table Vportion 2 for supporting the die and work. A die 3 is shown in position thereon to coact with a punch 5 operating vertically in la.v bearing way 6 under the action of va crank'8 on crank shaft 9 which is suitably journaledv atthe top of the machine. f

Journaled on .the crank shaft is the usual whichis operative to couple the pulley and shaft to rotate together forV one revolution in the customaryma-nner. For the pres-ent purposes it will sufce to" state `that the clutch element 'may normally be operative torcouple the pulley and shaft, so that the punch will reciprocate, and that it is restrained from so actingby an interposed element, which is withdrawn by the operating connections when it is desired to operate the press. l as being directly connected to the restraining element and it will be understood that upon its being pulled downwardlyit willl impart movement to the restraining element so as to permitthe coupling engagement of the clutch parts. Then, of course, the punch will be reciprocated.

12 indicates the usual foot treadle fulcruined at 18. a

In so far vas described the mechanism is Vof a customary construction and associated ing link 14 and connected to both so that The link 'lliois here consideredV rPatented J une 6, 1916.

Application sied July i4, i914. serial No. 850,904.

- are attached.

movement of the treadle can be imparted to the link only through the guard device under specific conditions. The parts thereof comprise an oscillatory actuating member 15 positively connectedto and moved by the treadle 12, a stationary supporting member 16, a movable guard and control member 18 and a link actuating lever 19 fulcrumed on the stationary member 24 and operatively engaged by theactuating member.

As shown the stationary supporting member 16 is provided with a flange arm 22 by which it is attached to the standard of the machine, in Fig. 1 being shown bolted thereby to a fish plate 28 bolted directly to the standard 1. On pin 24 carried by the supporting member 16 is fulcrumed the actuating lever 19 which .is in the form of a bell crank having an extending arm 26 pivotally connected to the operating link 14 and having its other arm 28 provided with an elongated slot 29.V This actuating lever is engaged by the actuating member 15 for imparting movement to the release link 14. However it is also engaged by the guard and control member 18 whose office is to restrain such movement of the lever by the actuating member until the guard element attached thereto insures safety to the operator. To that end the control member is journaled on the supporting member by being fitted to a squared end of a spindle 8O journaled directly in the supporting member. Adjustably secured to the spindle is a guard supporting shaft 82 journaled at 88--33 in bearing brackets 84-34 carried by the standard 1. On this shaft 82 is mounted the guard element proper in the form of a bent bar 85 forwardly extended to surround the punch and die in the manner best understood by reference to Fig. 2. The .shaft 32 may be squared to have fitted thereto socket pieces 86-36 to which the ends of the guard bar Set screws 38 are shown lfor securing the sockets in position.

The manner of adjustably connecting the spindle 30 and guard shaft 32 is best indicated in Figs. 2 and 5 wherein the shaft 32 is shown provided with a bearing socket member40 secured by a set screw 4l. The socket member 40 provides a journal bearing for the end of the spindle 80. The socket member 40 is provided with a slotted segvment 42 and a similar unslotted segment member 43 is fixed on the spindle 30. Threaded to the latter member 43 is a clamping bolt 45 fitting within the slot of segment 42 as best shown in Fig. 5. Tighten- Ying of this bolt will clamp the segments together in adjusted position and as a further feature of my invention T provide an additional securing means to insure of maintaining the parts in adjusted position. This further precaution I desirably provide in the form of two set screws 46-46 threaded to obstacle.

the segment 42 so as to engage the bolt 45 and thereby further secure the relative position of the segments and the consequent adjustment of the guard element to the controlling member 18.

The movement of the guard and the controlling member 18 attached thereto is limited by the engagement of opposed stop shoulders 48 and 49 on the controlling member with a stop lug 50 integral with the Stationary support 16. As best shown in Fig. 6 upon the inner face of the controlling member thereis provided a restraining lug 52 laterally extended from shoulder 48 and positioned to be engaged by the upper surface 53 of the actuating lever arm 28 throughout the complete movement of the controlling member' but to be moved beyond the end of the arm 28 in the extreme lower position of the controlling member. Thus when the guard and control members are in extreme lowered position, and only then, the bell crank lever v28 can be moved for operating the press, for the engagement of the restraining lug with the lever arm is such that the arm lis held thereby from its operative movemen The actuating member 15 is j ournaled upon an extension of the spindle and as described is positively moved by the operation of the treadle 12 for this purpose being connected therewith by pivotal connecting link 55 whereby depression of the treadle will likewise oscillate the actuating member. At the end of the movement of the actuating member 15 it is arranged that it shall impart the operating movement to the actuating link 19 and for that purpose it is provided with a lug 56 (F ig. 4) entered into the slot 29 of the lever so that upon engagement with the elongated surface 58 at the end of the slot, the lever will be'rocked inwardly to release the clutch for operating the machine.

The operative movement of the actuating lever 28 as described, is dependent upon the complete lowering of the guard and control member so as to remove the restraining lug 52 from engaging position. It is arranged that the movement of the control member 18 shall be effected by the actuating member 15, so that the initial movement of the treadle and actuating member will lower the guard from raised position shown in Fig. 1 to the dotted position below the table before movement is imparted to the clutch release connections. Therefore a connection is provided between the actuating member 15 and the control member 18 whereby the operative movement of the former is dependent upon the complete movement of the latter member. The connections here provided are of yielding nature for the purpose of cushioning the engagement of the guard element withany The connection here shown consists of a lug bar 60 secured to the controlling member 18 by bolts 62-62 passing through suitable slots in the actuating meniber 15. The latter member 15 is provided with a recess 64 to receive the bar 60 and to limit the movement of the controlling member 18 relative to the actuating member 15, which is slight, by the engagement of the side walls 64 of the recess 64 with the bar 60. A reti'actile spring 65 is connected to the controlling member and to the actuating member normally to hold the bar 60 in the lower part of the recess 64'so that the guard will yield slightly in an upward direction.

An adjusting screw 68 is threaded to the stationary member 16 in position to engage the controlling member 18 adjustably to limit the movement thereof in its upward travel. A securing nut 69 is threaded on the end of the spindle to secure the parts in position. A return spring 7 0 is attached to a screw 71 on the actuating member and to an arm 72 on the flange 22 of the supporting member. The arm 72 as shown may be clamped by a suitable bolt so as to permit of its being swung to adjust the tension of the return spring whose function is to return the parts to initial position with the guard in elevated position.

The operation of the described mechanism from the initial position of the parts with the guardelement 35 in raised position is effected upon the depression of the operating treadle 12. Through the link 55 a corresponding movement is given to the actuating member 15. Through the yielding spring connection the motion is imparted to the controlling element and to the guard 35 resulting in lowering of the guard to a lowermost position shown in dotted lines Fig. 1. The restraining lug 52 of the controlling member will then have been moved out of position of engagement with the lever arm 28 and continued movementl of the actuating member will operateV to rock the lever 26 by the engagement of the lug 56 with the cam surface 58. The movement thus imparted to the lever 26 will cause the operation of the press. The guard element, as shown, is of a form entirely to surround the punch and die so that it will engage the arm or hand of the operator unless withdrawn beyond its field of movement and removed from the danger zone. Should the guard element vencounter an obstacle to its movement the controlling member 15 will be held thereby from further movement and consequently the press cannot be operated. The movement ofthe actuating member likewise will be restrained but through the interposed yield ing spring connection 65 which will thus cushion the force imparted to the guard element from the treadle so as not to produce a.y too severe contact which mightharm the operator. It will be seen that the operation of the press can only be effected through the treadle when all obstacles have,

been removed from the path of the guard element and moreover by reason of the presence of the restraining or locking lug 56 it is prevented from being moved by direct manipulation thereof and thus possibility of danger from that source is removed. Upon removal of the engaging bar v 60, as will readily be understood, the guarding parts will be disconnected from the actuating member and will assume a lowered position so that the Dress may be operated independently thereof.

Having described my invention lI claim 1. A guardmechanism for punch presses- Vthe segments and set screws threaded to the latter segment for engagement with the clamping bolt for securing the parts in adjusted position.

2. A guard mechanism for punch presses comprising a suitable supporting member, an actuating member suitably journaled, an actuating lever arranged to be engaged by the actuating member, a gate supporting shaft suitably journaled. a guard-gate ele'- ment carried on the shaft, a segment on the supporting shaft, a supporting spindle journaled in the supporting member in alinement with the shaft, a controlling member affixed to the spindle and adapted to be moved by the actuating member, a restraining lug carried by the guard member and operative to restrain the movement of the lever until said guard member has completed its movement, a coacting segment member secured to the spindle, a clamping bolt threaded to one of the segments and fitted to a slot in the other of the segments and set screws threaded tothe latter segment for engagement with the clamping bolt for securing the gate and controlling member in adjusted relation.

3. A guard mechanism for punch presses comprising a suitable supporting member, an actuating member suitably ]ournaled, an actuating lever arranged to be engaged-by the actuating member, a gate supporting shaft suitably `iournaled, a segment on the supporting shaft, a guard gate element on the supporting shaft, a supporting spindle journaled in the supporting member and Yin the said segment, a controlling member aiiiXed to the spindle and adapted to be moved by the actuating member,v a Coacting segment secured to the spindle adjacent to said first segment, a clamping bolt threaded to one of the segments and iitted to a slot 13 in the other of the segments and set screws JOSEPH ADAMS. Witnesses A. F. SAssEEN," J. R. MILLWARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. C. 

